After good Friday, a setback for Srinivasan

It’s difficult being N Srinivasan these days. Every time the beleaguered BCCI president feels he has got past his troubles, he has received a setback in one form or the other.

Just a couple of days ago, Srinivasan had announced that he would be seeking re-election at the board’s Annual General Meeting on September 29. The support of six south units, whose turn is to put forward a candidate for the presidency, had suggested that Srinivasan would have his way and return to power.

But Saturday’s chargesheet filed by the Mumbai police against his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan could potentially spoil Srinvasan’s aspirations. The Tamil Nadu strongman has already copped a lot due to his son-in-law’s alleged deeds, having had to ‘step aside’ from the BCCI president’s post.

As of Saturday, the board members were tight-lipped if the chargesheet will have any bearing on Srinivasan seeking a one-year extension. While Srinivasan does posses the numbers to hold on to his position, the issue of ‘moral grounds’ might come back to haunt him.

If the south units decide not to support him, suggesting he take responsibility for Meiyappan’s activities, then Srinivasan will be hard-pressed to concede defeat. His rivals too are banking on these grounds to stall him from contesting the elections.

Srinivasan will also be wary after the chargesheet gave damning details. In the chargesheet, the Mumbai Police said, “Investigators have evidence to prove that Mr Meiyappan has passed on crucial information that compromises the team strategy, information about team composition, information about injury updates, information about who is going to bat where.”

While it proves that the BCCI appointed two-man probe committee’s findings on the issue was a farce, it also opens up debate over Chennai Super Kings survival. Srinivasan remained defiant, declaring that he had done nothing wrong. “Why should I step aside? I am not disqualified and neither can you (media) push me out,” he said.

“This is a matter for Mr Gurunath Meiyappan to deal with. The law will take its own course. He has been suspended so he has got nothing to do with the game. It is up to him to defend his position,” Srinivasan added.